Price is Right ratings and concerns (spoiler alert for 11-14 show)

[KyDXIn]

I always laugh a bit at the idea anyone is trained to be a game show host. Bob Barker was a broadcaster, a type of performer to be sure, and he happened to land a gig hosting a game show, which then led to Price. It's not like there's a game show hosting major in college--people come at it from different performance backgrounds, be it radio to TV or talk shows or what have you. Sure, now you have Drew and Howie coming from a comedic background (as was the great Ray Combs with Feud), and you have Meredith from a journalistic background.

Price faced a daunting challenge. Stick too close to the Barker style and risk the "trying to copy Bob" complaints, or give it a freshened--not completely different--identity and risk the "not enough like Bob" complaints. Damned if you do....

For all the complaints about it being so radically different, it's still pricing games on a flashy set with three doors, the same theme song (HORRORS, though, they updated some of the music cues!), with the same basic structure. The set got minor updates, the music got minor updates, and the host is using his style, much as Barker (and Bill Cullen before him) used his personal style. Perfect? Eh, nothing is. But hardly a vast departure from the show as it's been known all these years.

The long and short of it all--your analysis nailed it. Anyone who's still nitpicking at this point should just stop watching.
Bob Barker and Rob Roddy are not walking through that door.

Bob Barker started as a game show host in 1956, or 16 years before the "New Price Is Right" began. When you saw Bob Barker during the last few years involved over 50 years of practice! Drew has been a game show host what 2 years? Give the man a chance! I think its quite remarkable he's done so well in such a short time.

 

[johnnya2k6]

Remember, weatherman Pat Sajak is still on his first game show. Does he still qualify as a rookie?

No, because while he was doing the weather at KNBC, Sajak hosted an game show pilot for "Press Your Luck" (no relation to the Peter Tomarken show, this one was based on the electronic game "Simon"). It didn't get picked up.

And Pat O'Brien (formerly of CBS Sports/Access Hollywood/The Insider) did a pilot for a new version of "The Krypton Factor" in 2000 for Fox. They turned it down for something better..."American Idol", perhaps?

 

[imhomerjay]

Remember, weatherman Pat Sajak is still on his first game show. Does he still qualify as a rookie?

No, because while he was doing the weather at KNBC, Sajak hosted an game show pilot for "Press Your Luck" (no relation to the Peter Tomarken show, this one was based on the electronic game "Simon"). It didn't get picked up.

A pilot. Wow. That makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Grindlfan]

I don't like Drew either but I gave it a chane. He just isn't good at it and he is too much of a buffoon. CBS should have tried out different hosts for the full season after Barker left and let the audience decide who they liked best. They could have narrowed the choices down to 8 or 10 and then had a different host each month. Frankly, anyone would have been better than Drew. I take that back, Rosie O'Donnell would not have been a good choice either.

 

[mjlarochelle]

I don't like Drew either but I gave it a chane. He just isn't good at it and he is too much of a buffoon. CBS should have tried out different hosts for the full season after Barker left and let the audience decide who they liked best. They could have narrowed the choices down to 8 or 10 and then had a different host each month. Frankly, anyone would have been better than Drew. I take that back, Rosie O'Donnell would not have been a good choice either.

Just think, if Rosie ended up there, The View would be beating them way more in the ratings. Had Rosie stayed on The View though...

Bah, I don't want to think about either scenario.

 

[Grindlfan]

Yeah, Rosie is NOT game show material as much as she loves to give stuff away. She needs to be the center of attention all the time, and on a game show the contestant should be the star. That is part of Drew's problem too. He wants to be the star. Bob Barker let the contestants be the entertainment and make fools of themselves. Bob was and is a class act.

 

[formeraa]

...on a game show the contestant should be the star.

You hit the nail on the head!

 

[Robnoxious]

I was surprised Freemantle didn't tap John O'Hurley for TPIR. He was all ready getting his hosting feet wet and doing a good job with Family Feud (and had previous stints hosting To Tell The Truth) and he was all ready on Freemantle's payroll. He's a better fit for TPIR whereas even 2 years later Drew still doesn't have the hosting down pat (he still fumbles with telling contestants the rules of the pricing games, if at all).

 

[searadiofreak]

I only occasionally watch the show. I caught it today. Hardly anyone won anything. What a snoozefest.

And what is with the set? It really doesn't look good. Seems dated and some of the angles shot today made it look like it was falling apart.

 

[Grindlfan]

I was surprised Freemantle didn't tap John O'Hurley for TPIR. He was all ready getting his hosting feet wet and doing a good job with Family Feud (and had previous stints hosting To Tell The Truth) and he was all ready on Freemantle's payroll. He's a better fit for TPIR whereas even 2 years later Drew still doesn't have the hosting down pat (he still fumbles with telling contestants the rules of the pricing games, if at all).

I don't agree with the John O'Hurley comment. There has been way too much of him on TV lately. Same with Tom Bergeron. He could take a sabatical too.